Obama, Clinton top most-admired lists for 2011

Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are the nation's most admired man and woman -- again -- in the annual USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

Each leads their category with 17 percent of votes in top 10 lists that favor the most familiar names in global politics, religion, entertainment and culture.

Linda Dinco, 62, of Latrobe, Pa., says she named Obama and Secretary of State Clinton for their "intelligence and their toughness."

Obama supplanted George W. Bush at No. 1 in 2008 but Bush continues in the No. 2 spot, according to the poll of 1,019 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 15-18.

Former president Bill Clinton hovers in third this year, just above the most frequently named person in the poll's history -- the Rev. Billy Graham. The 93-year-old evangelist has been on the list since Gallup first asked the question in 1946 and has made the top 10 55 times.

Perennial runner-up Oprah Winfrey is No. 2 for women for the 10th time. It's her 24th year in the top 10.

After the first two or three names at the top of these lists, it's a steep drop percentage-wise. Many make the top 10 without a lot of support.

No. 5 Warren Buffett had just 2 percent of the votes, the same as Bill Clinton and Graham but rounding set the order. Buffett drew a vote from Alan Rhodes, 58, of Arlington, Texas. Rhodes says he admires the billionaire because, "his wealth is secondary to loving his work."

Newt Gingrich and Donald Trump tied for sixth place with 1 percent each, just a hair's breadth above Pope Benedict XVI, Bill Gates and Mormon Church prophet Thomas Monson. How often do you see those names in the same sentence?

The women's list has some remarkable ties as well. Tied for No. 7 are the late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and comic Ellen DeGeneres. They're just below former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former first lady Laura Bush.

Queen Elizabeth, on the list since 1948 when she was a princess, tied for ninth place this year with U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, now campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination.

Only a vote or two kept pious powerhouse Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback known for prayer and last-quarter saves, out of the top 10. He still topped the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan monk was first with Mark Goodman. Goodman, 39, a high school principal in St. David, Ariz., called the Dalai Lama "thoughtful, compassionate and always focused on standing up for his people. That's real leadership."

Holiness often vaults people to the top -- Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa both led their lists in 1980.

But it's most often political ties that turn on the limelight -- president after president and their spouses have landed in the top 10. Hillary Clinton has made it 16 times now, more than any other woman. Eleanor Roosevelt made the list 13 times.

Lists from decades past also acknowledge the wow power of a wide variety of accomplished people.

A few examples: Playwright, congresswoman and former ambassador Clare Boothe Luce ties Mother Teresa and former first lady Barbara Bush, each with 18 appearances on the top 10 list. Nobel laureate and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson, and Jesse Jackson each have 11 appearances.

Still, no one can claim to be the biggest name of all. In 2011, one in three poll respondents named no one to either list. And more people named a friend or relative rather than give the laurels to any famous man or woman.

Jenna Lelansky, 30, of Turner, Maine, honored her mother and father, calling them "beautiful examples of living love, wonderful people who are full of compassion."

Judith Hurt, 53, of Willoughby, Ohio, just had fun with the question.

"I'm not into politics so I went with the people I really admire -- George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez," she says.

Clooney's sexy smile reminds Hurt of his aunt, Rosemary Clooney who crooned in Hurt's favorite movie, White Christmas. As for Lopez, Hurt says, "She's come so far. She's a mom of twins and she still looks hot!"